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Blues Lineup:
Forwards: Jaden Schwartz, Paul Stastny, Dmitrij Jaskin, Robby Fabbri, Jori Lehtera, Vladimir Tarasenko, David Perron, Patrik Berglund, Nail Yakupov, Scottie Upshall, Kyle Brodziak, Ryan Reaves
Defensemen: Jay Bouwmeester, Alex Pietrangelo, Carl Gunnarsson, Kevin Shattenkirk, Colton Parayko, Petteri Lindbohm
Goaltender: Jake Allen
As mentioned in the caption, Alexander Steen was not in the lineup tonight. Also, Robert Bortuzzo was activated from IR, but did not play either.
Game Highlights:
The Blues were back at Drink Scotch to take on the San Jose Sharks. The Blues were coming off a 4-1 win against Buffalo Tuesday night. Meanwhile the Sharks played to a 1-0 loss to Carolina that same evening. Five minutes in, Jake Allen was already making highlight reel saves. For whatever reason, Shattenkirk thought it a good idea to fire the puck in to the middle of the ice. That was NOT a great idea however and the Sharks almost capitalized. Allen made a diving stick save to rob Matt Nieto and deny the Sharks the 1-0 lead.
The Sharks however did take a 1-0 lead after Logan Couture beats Allen 5 hole.
Despite the Sharks playing in the Blues defensive end most of the period, the Blues tied it up. Jaden Schwartz was the beneficiary of a loose puck and took advantage. He wrists a shot past Sharks starter Martin Jones tying the game at 1. Alex Pietrangelo gets credit for an assist on the play after forcing the turnover.
Despite only having 4 shots on goal by the end of the first, the Blues managed to keep the game knotted at one.
The game stayed that way until 11:15 in the second period. Schwartz again managed to find the back of the net. He had a little help from the post this time, but hey whatever works. Schwartz's second goal was unassisted.
Not so fast though. Just moments later the Sharks come down the ice and score a game tying goal of their own. On a delayed penalty, Kevin Labanc scores his first NHL goal knotting the game at 2.
The go ahead goal came on the Blues powerplay. David Perron breaks the 2-2 tie with a wrist shot that beats Jones. Stastny and Fabbri notch assists on the powerplay goal.
Martin Jones denies Schwartz the hat trick with a save in the early going of the third period.
Late in the game, with Jones on the bench, the Blues commit the garbage penalty of the NHL. Delay of game. Because why wouldn't they? The Sharks had the 6 on 4 advantage for what was a good part of a minute left in the game. The Blues penalty kill held them off. Including some fine work by Allen at the end of the game with mere seconds to go.
The Blues go on to win this one 3-2. A slow start, but a decent finish for the home team. Next up for the Blues, the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Remember if you're going to the game buy a Gametime paper, tip your vendor, and tell your friends!
From The Twitter Machine:
The fourth line had another good game tonight. Hitch had some comments on it:
Hithcocck on Upshall-Brodziak-Reaves line: "They're playing smart, hard, determined hockey. It's forging a good identity for us." #stlblues
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 18, 2016
What scoring drought?
Looks like the Blues may be starting to snap out of some of their funk slowly. 11 goals over the last three games isn't bad.
— Laura (@hildymac) November 18, 2016
The Blues are leading the league in something...that's not good.
Blues lead the NHL with 6 delay of game penalties this year. #stlblues
— Frozen Notes (@FrozenNotes) November 18, 2016
Update on Steen:
Steen day to day, Hitch hopeful he'll rejoin the team over the weekend.
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) November 18, 2016
Postgame comments from the captain and David Perron
Petro:
Pietrangelo: "Tonight, even when they scored that second goal, there was no panic on the bench, no panic in the room." #stlblues pic.twitter.com/qZOpObF1w9
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) November 18, 2016
Perron:
David Perron is going to need some ice on that mouth, but the @StLouisBlues forward was determined to get a goal tonight. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/cSBp38D6wy
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) November 18, 2016
And finally...Gametime has found itself in a Twitter Vote. Make Blues Twitter great again wont you and vote?
Pencils down everyone! Round 1 of the #TwitterCup is over!
— ToastDispatch (@ToastDispatch) November 17, 2016
Here is the updated bracket:#STLBlues pic.twitter.com/3SyM6LC0I4
Player of The Game:
Jaden Schwartz. 2 goals. All over the ice tonight. Honorable mention goes to the fourth line, who were also all over the place tonight. Hitch even admitted to using them 4 times in the third against the Joe Thornton line.